Blue Rodeo – Canada’s Band

Canada’s Band is the only way I can describe Blue Rodeo. Since 1987, Blue Rodeo has been a fan favourite on the Ottawa (and Canadian) music scene. They are as symbolic and important to Canada as the beaver, the maple leaf, poutine, the toque, hockey, and politeness.

Their music spans three decades, 14 studio albums, 4 live albums, 1 compilation set, 54 hit singles, and—most importantly—an enduring place in the soundtrack of millions of Canadians’ lives. They sing about love and loss, the land, pain and redemption, joy, forgiveness, drinking, dancing, and hope.

At times, they touch on politics—rarely—but when they do, it has an impact. They wrote the song “Fools Like You” back in 1992 to describe Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples. In 2015, their song and video “Stealin’ All My Dreams” shook the foundations of Stephen Harper’s government, concisely and angrily describing its failings and capturing Canadians’ collective frustration. You know you’re in trouble as a politician in this country if Blue Rodeo has taken the time to write a song and produce a video about you.

That’s because, for three decades, their songs have connected with Canadians at an intuitive level. Their presence on the Canadian music scene is prolific. Blue Rodeo are inductees in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (2012) and received a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in May 2014 for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts. They are also recipients of the Massey Hall Honours award, which celebrates the cultural contributions of great artists and their commitment to performance at Massey Hall.

According to the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Blue Rodeo has sold more than four million records and won an unprecedented 11 Juno Awards, establishing themselves as one of the premier groups in Canadian music history.

For younger musicians and upcoming bands, Blue Rodeo has legendary status. Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor are often referred to as Canada’s Lennon and McCartney—and their songbook more than backs that claim.

Blue Rodeo’s current tour landed in Ottawa on Valentine’s Day, and the band delivered another exemplary performance that ended with a standing ovation from the 7,500-plus fans in attendance.

Ottawa Life Magazine met with Greg Keelor before the show and asked him about “Stealin’ All My Dreams” and the timing of its release. He said, “The song started out as me trying to figure out why the CBC was so fu—d up, and the trail led to the PMO, and then it led to what Harper was doing on a whole bunch of other things in Canada.”

Keelor added that he thought Canadian bands Hey Rosetta! and Yukon Blonde had written a great protest song with “Land You Love,” but his personal favourite was “Vote that F—ker OUT”

He said, “It was both true and hilarious, and it could apply to anyone doing a bad job in any elective office in the world when you think about it.”

Keelor has a wonderful sense of humour and a subtle defiance that comes out in conversation. Although I can’t say for sure, I think he may be the one who brings the edge to their songs, while Cuddy brings the melody. However they do it, it works.

Before the show, we had the chance to meet the rest of the band. They were all genuinely pleasant. A local singer nervously handed Jim Cuddy a CD of her music and said, “I don’t think it’s that good.” Cuddy responded warmly, “Don’t say that, I’m sure it is great.” (For the record—it was, and she is a talented singer, though nerves got the best of her in that moment.)

After a high-energy and melodious opening set by Toronto rocker Terra Lightfoot, Blue Rodeo took to the stage with “Trust Yourself,” followed by a string of rootsy alt-rock country hits from past years, mixed with new songs like “Superstar” and “Rabbit’s Foot”—both strong additions to the Blue Rodeo songbook that are sure to get radio play.

It wasn’t long before fans were on their feet, singing along with Cuddy and Keelor, as lead guitarist Colin Cripps worked his magic with well-timed riffs and occasional solos. Bassist Basil Donovan anchored the sound quietly, while pianist Michael Boguski took the spotlight with a few dazzling solos on “5 Days in May” and “Dark Angel.”

A highlight of the night was the Cuddy-Keelor acoustic set, featuring Cuddy’s still-amazing rendition of “Try”—a song he has likely performed 10,000 times but still makes sound fresh—and Keelor’s haunting version of “Dark Angel.”

The finale brought Terra Lightfoot and her band back on stage for a mass singalong of “Lost Together,” with thousands of fans joining in. It was a magical moment.

It struck me then why Blue Rodeo concerts are always so good: these guys genuinely love to perform. They love what they are doing, it shows, and they seem happiest when their fans are singing and dancing along.

Years ago, Jim Cuddy wrote a line in the hit song “Rena” that says it all: “I taught myself to play so I could be where people danced.”

We’re still dancing.